Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 23:02:38 -0500
From: David B. O'Donnell
To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS
Subject: CBC forced to pay spousal benefits!
[ Send all responses to danwon@ACCESS.MBNET.MB.CA only. Any responses to
the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ]
An arbitrator has ruled in favor of a gay man who was demanding spousal
benefits for his partner of eight years. The Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation, (CBC), with a precedent being set, must now grant spousal
benefits to all of it's gay employees.
Dennis Martin Chabot, a reporter for SRC Radio in Alberta, (French CBC
Radio), filed a grievance back in November 1993 after the Corporation refused
his earlier request to grant his lover insurance coverage. He made a
grievance on the basis that sexual orientation was included in the
non-discrimination clause of his barganning unit's contract with the
Corporation. This clause of non-discrimination is also found in the
technical staff's contract with the Corporation.
The hearings were held in December of 1994 and the ruling was handed down in
early February of 1995. CBC can not appeal this ruling. However the
Corporation does have the option to request a judicial review. Although this
move is unlikely.
A couple other employees had filed grievances on this matter before Mr.
Chabot, but they backed downed due to the publicity such a ruling would
attract.
commentary:
The CBC is not the first Crown Corporation to give spousal benefits to gays.
"Canada Post" , "Petro Canada", and I believe "the Federal Government"
already extend spousal benefits to their gay employees. One would think
however that the CBC, a well respected broadcaster throughout the world, and
a broadcaster who fairly portrays all aspects of Canadian life, including
homosexuality, would have been the FIRST!
Dennis Martin Chabot is not currently on the Internet. If you have comments
or fan mail for him, please send to me and I will forward them. Cheers!
Dan.
"FOLLOW YOUR BLISS" joseph campbell